Page 46 of Camera Stays On

“You’re sweating more than I am,” Purdy said with a giggle, which didn’t help. When it was our turn, my legs shook, and I had to force myself to move. We stepped into the room, and my eyes found Sawyer’s. His smile grew wider, and he wiggled his eyebrows. I was going to be sick. It felt like I was escorting her to her death.

Music was playing as we went, but I didn’t hear it. All I could hear was the blood rushing in my ears, telling me to stop. I shouldn’t have interfered. This was going to be bad.

That’s when I saw the projection screen behind the altar.

Oh no.

I froze midway down the aisle, and Purdy tugged my arm. Blinking, I kept moving, taking her to my brother. With shaky hands, I removed her veil and kissed her cheek.

“Who gives this woman away?” the priest asked.

“I do,” I said, doing my part. Stepping back behind my brother, I forced myself to not show any of my panic. My gaze shot back to the projection screen, praying it didn’t mean what I thought it did.

Purdy beamed as she stepped up to Sawyer. I wanted to warn her, but she wasn’t looking at me. She was focused on the man she’d agreed to marry today.

The priest cleared his throat and began his speech about love, marriage, and whatever religious bullshit our Ma had asked him to say. As he did so, I came up with a plan. I’d object when it was time. I’d step out of line and stop whatever my brother had planned.

“It’s my understanding that you wrote your own vows?”

Purdy frowned. “What? No, I—”

“I did, actually.” Pulling a remote from his pocket, Sawyer pointed it at the screen behind us.

So this was it. I closed my eyes, knowing exactly what was going to happen. Low murmurs rose from the guests as the video played.

“What is this?” Gavin asked.

“It’s Purdy, being a fucking whore behind my back. Care to explain?” Sawyer demanded. His volume forced me to open my eyes and witness what I directly caused. Guilt and shame filled me as I stood there, like a coward, and watched it unfold.

Gasps rang out among the crowd, and they eagerly leaned in, waiting to hear from the bride. My gaze found Purdy’s. She’d just turned from the screen, her beautiful brown eyes shiny as she fought back tears.

“I’m waiting,” Sawyer said.

Purdy blinked rapidly, then straightened. The room was silent, except for the sound of her giggles coming from the video I’d faked.

Startling the otherwise silent room, she dropped her bouquet and turned toward the aisle. Raising the skirt of her dress, she held her head high and slowly walked down the aisle, exiting the church without a word.

Chapter 20

Asher

SAWYER BOUNDED DOWN the stairs and into the living room with a grin on his face. I was nestled on the couch, surrounded by the cast. We’d been chatting about some of the production tech, but I paused mid-sentence when I clocked Sawyer. Why was he so happy?

The look in his eyes reminded me of their wedding day.

“What’s up?” I asked. Making direct eye contact with me, he slid two fingers under his nose and grinned. It was such a quick gesture that no one else caught it but me. It was something he used to do when we were teens—his way of telling his friends that he and Andi were fooling around. My chest tightened as he laughed.

“Nothing. I was just upstairs talking with Purdy.” He plopped down on the other couch and pulled his legs up, stretching out. “She really is something. There’s a reason she’s the star.”

Juliet scowled but said nothing. Everyone else glanced around, but conversation about the tech in the movie resumed. I didn’t join in, despite knowing my silence was suspicious as hell.

“What were you guys talking about?” I called from across the room.

He turned just his head, that stupid grin still plastered on his face. “Just catching up. The wedding dress brought up memories for both of us. I guess it’s a good thing you’re gonna play her husband in the movie. If I did it, we’d end up turning it into a porno.”

“I have to go.” Juliet stood up abruptly and bolted from the room, a choked sob following her out. My brother didn’t seem to notice. Or if he did, he didn’t care. He settled deeper into the couch and closed his eyes.

It felt like we were teenagers again, with him bragging about himself and Andi. He was the first one in our friend group to lose his virginity, and he had never let us forget it. Every time he came back from her house with stories of their sex life, it had been a knife in my heart.